Dispensing fixture and mounting bracket



Oct. 4, 19 0 E. s. GANTNER 2,9 4, 56

DISPENSING FIXTURE AND MOUNTING BRACKET Filed Sept. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. l IBM/P17 5. QWYWER BY Oct. 4, 1960 GANTNER 2,954,956

DISPENSING FIXTURE AND MOUNTING BRACKET Filed Sept. 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J6 INVENTOR.

Inn/A220 [Z fiqzvrmsz? DISPENSING FIXTURE AND MOUNTING BRACKET Edward George Gantner, Morton Grove, Ill., assignor to Gantner Industries, Inc., Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 17, 1957, Ser. No. 684,559

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-276) The invention relates to improvements in dispensing fixtures, and particularly to a novel dispensing fixture adapted to hold a package of disposable tissues and to novel means for mounting such a fixture on the dashboard of an automobile for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane into utility and storage positions with respect to said dashboard.

Certain packaged sheet products are produced and assembled so that the contents of the package may be withdrawn successively through a wall aperture which may be made by puncturing a prepared area thereof. One example which illustrates this practice concerns packaged disposable cellulose tissue sheets which are used for personal needs, household utility, and in various other general service respects. Manufacturers of these tissues, recog nizing that facile availability of these tissues, in respect to their container package, to a large extent enhances their utility, have designed the packaging containers so that the tissues may be removed successively from a stacked condition therein. Towards this end, the tissues are packaged with interengaging flaps and are stacked in cardboard containers which outline their assembled stack dimensions.

It is desirable to be able to support a holder and dispensing fixture for packages containing such disposable tissues on the dashboard of an automobile, or upon some similar support, by means of novel mounting brackets which will permit substantial concealment of the dispensing fixture when it is not in use. Such mounting is especially important in an automobile where storage space is at a minimum. In furthermore, is most advantageous that the holder and dispensing fixture be mounted for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane about a .vertical axis. Inasmuch as the dashboard in dilferent automobiles is curved inwardly, at least at its lowermost margin, on different radii, the bracket assembly or other means used to mount the fixture desirably is adjustable so as to insure such horizontal mounting.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide ,anovelly constructed bracket assembly of the character herein described. a

' Another object of the invention is to provide a bracket .assembly with a novelly mounted :xnovel' guide means therefor. Another object is to provide a novelly constructed mounting plate and guide bracket for cooperative engagement by a pivotally mounted mounting plate.

-. Another object is to provide a novelly constructed bracket assembly which is simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assembleand mount, readily adjusted and very eflicient in use.

With the foregoing and such other objects in view,

States Patent 2,954,956 Patented Oct. .4, 196 0 ings one embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which,

when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated. l i

. Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the dispensing fixture, showing it mounted on the dashboard of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, omitting the adapter bracket. i

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the arcuate guide plate.

The novel holder and dispensing fixture for a package of disposable tissues comprises generally, asubstantially rectangular casing in which a commercial package of disposable tissues is mounted. This fixture, which takes the form of a shallow substantially rectangular bOX,iS provided adjacent to one front corner and on the outside face of its top wall with novel swivel means to which is attached a mounting bracket for mounting the fixture on the lower margin or edge flange of the dashboard of an automobile so as to be pivotally movable in a horizontal plane from a partially concealed or storage position beneath the dashboard into an exposed or utility position from which tissues may be withdrawn therefrom.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the holder and dispensing fixture, generally indicated at 10, comprises a casing, preferably made of plastic material, adapted to enclose and protect a commercial package 12 of cleansing tissues and it includes a front wall 14, a top wall 16, a bottom wall 18 and connecting end walls 20 (only one shown). The back side of the casing is open to permit the insertion and withdrawal of the commercial package 12. The top wall 16 is provided with a centrally located longitudinal slot 22 located in a position to coincide with the location of a similar slot formed in the cardboard package of cleansing tissues. Through the registration of the slot 22 in'said top wall 16 and the slot in the package, there is obtained accessibility to the interfolded sheets of cleansing tissues having an end margin 24 extended out so as to be grasped for removal.

An adjustable mounting or bracket assembly, generally indicated at 26, is provided to insure horizontal swinging of the fixture 10 about a vertical pivot regardless of the angle at which the dashboard 28 forms with a vertical plane. The latter angle differs to some extent in automobiles of different make and type as is well known to persons skilled in the art. 7

Referring now to the detail disclosure, the adjustable mounting 26 for the holder and dispensing fixture 10, includes a substantially rectangular sheet metal plate 30 which is pivotally secured adjacent to one end,-as by a The swivel plate 30 has a longitudinally projecting end portion 48 formed to provide a flat tongue which is engaged at all times in an arcuate guideway 56 formed by elevating one margin of a guide bracket 52 secured, as by rivets 54, to the outside face of the fixture top wall 16. The guideway 50 isconcentric with the pivot rivet 32 and is of a length to permit the fixture to be rotated about the, pivot 32 approximately 90. When the relative positions of the swivel plate 30 and dispensing fixture 10 is as shown in' Figs. 1 and 2, the tongue 48 is seated in an offset 56 (Fig; 5) in said guideway so as to resist,

relative turning. The guideway-tongue assembly not only functions to limit relative, rotation of the pivoted parts butit serves also to relieve the pivot of the strain imposed by the load of the fixture and its contents, thus prolonging the useful'life of the assembly by reducing the likelihood of excessive play developing in the pivot connection. Further reinforcement is provided, particularly in the instance when the holder'and dispensing fixture is made of plastic material, by the provision of a sheet of metal stock 58 which is arranged beneath the top wall 16 of the fixture and is secured in place by the pivot 32 and the guide bracket rivets 54.

In order to mount the fixture 10, the adapter bracket 36 is secured to the face of the dash 28 preferably adjacent to the free lower margin thereof, as best shown in Fig. 3, by a pair of self-tapping screws 60 which pass through the slots 46 and are screw-threaded in holes provided therefor in the dash. The dispensing fixture 10 then is held beneath the adapter bracket 36 with the curved margin 34 of the plate in back of the adapter bracket edge flange 40. The dispensing fixture is then adjusted into the desired horizontal plane with respect to the adapter bracket and the screws 44 are then tightened to secure the parts in such adjusted position. When so mounted, the dispensing fixture 10 may be rotated 90 about the pivot 32 from the concealed or storage position shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 2, into a utility or dispensing position as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

It should be quite evidentthat a very inexpensive, "efficient and rugged mounting is provided by the structure disclosed herein; that the structure disclosed may have associated with it a mounting cleat or adapter of the character shown and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 666,154, filed June 17, 1957, now abandoned, and that, because many structural changes may be made in the invention as above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A bracket and fixture assembly for holding a package in utility and storage positions comprising a mounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends 'on the outside face of the top wall of said fixture, a guide bracket mounted on the outside face of said fixture wall in fixed relation to said pivotal mounting and including an arcuate guideway concentric with said pivotal mounting, a'reinforcing plate underlying the top wall in the area of the mounting plate and bracket and secured to said bracket and mounting plate, the other end portion of said mounting plate being engaged beneath and movment thereof along the guideway, an upstanding inwardly curved marginal flange on one edge of said plate, a

second bracketadapted to be, secured to a support, a deing flange, mounting screws carried bythe upstanding. flange, and said depending flange having slots therein to.

2. A bracket and assembly for holding a package in utilityiand storagepositions comprising amounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends on the top wall of said fixture,a guide bracket mounted on said fixture wall in fixed relation to said pivotal mounting and including an elevated arcuateguideway concentric with saidpivotal mounting, the other end portion of said plate'being engaged beneath and movable along said; guideway, an offset at least atone end of said guideway to receive said end portion to resist movement there of along the guideway, an upstanding inwardly curved marginal flange on one edge of said plate, a second bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a depending inwardly curved flange on said second bracket disposed in face to face engagementwith the upstanding flange,

mounting screws carried by the upstanding, flange, and

said depending flange havingslots therein to receive said 7 age inutility and storage positions comprising amountfingplate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends to the top wall of said fixture, a guide bracket mounted on said fixturewall in fixed relation to said pivotal mounting and including an arcuate guideway concentric with said pivotal mounting, an end portion on said plate engaged beneath and movable along'sa-id guideway, an offset at least at one end of said guideway to receive said end portion to resist movement thereof along the guidewaygan ups'tanding inwardly curved marginal flange on one edge of said plate, a second bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a depending inwardly curved flange on said second bracket disposed in face to face engagement with the upstanding flange, mounting screws carried by one of said flanges, and the other said flange having slots therein to receive said screws, said screws being effective when tightened to secure the second bracket and plate in adjusted positions so asto maintain the fixture substantially horizontal.

able along said guideway, an offset at least at one end of said guideway to receive said end portion'to resist move- 4. A bracket and fixture assembly for'holding a package in utility and storage positions comprising a mounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends to the top wall of said fixture, a bracket mounted on said fixture wall in fixed relation to said pivotal mounting and including a guideway, a portion of said plate being engaged beneath and movable along said guideway, means at least at one end of said guideway to receive said portion to resist movement thereof along the guideway, a flange on one edge of said plate, a second bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a flange on said second bracket disposed in face to face engagement with the plate flange,

mounting screws carried by one of said flanges, and the other said flange having openings therein to receive said screws, said screws being effective when tightened to secure the second bracket and plate in adjusted positions so as to maintain the fixture for pivotal movement in a predetermined plane relative to the plane of the support.

5. A bracket and fixture assembly for holding a package in utility and storage position comprising a mounting'plat e pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the top wall of said fixture, an arcuate guideway mounted on said top wall in fixed relation to and concentric with said pivotal mounting, means on said plate engaged with and movable beneath said guideway, means at one end of said guideway effective to resist movement of said means along the guideway in one direction, .an upstanding. curved marginal flange on one edge of said plate, a second bracket P dI be secured to a support, a depending curved flange on said second bracket disposed in face to face engagement with the upstanding flange, mounting screws carried by the upstanding flange, and said depending flange having slots therein to receive said screws, said screws being effective when tightened to secure the second bracket and plate in adjusted positions so as to maintain the fixture substantially horizontal.

6. A bracket and fixture assembly for holding a package in utility and storage positions comprising a mounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends to an end area of the top wall of said fixture, an arcuate guideway mounted on said top wall in fixed relation to and concentric with said pivotal mounting, means on the other end of said plate engaged beneath and movable along said guideway, means at one end of said guideway effective to resist movement of said means along the guideway in one direction, a curved flange on said plate, a second bracket adapted to be secured to a support, a curved flange on said second bracket disposed in face to face abutment with the plate flange, mounting screws carried by one of said flanges, and the other flange having openings therein to receive said screws, said screws being effective when tightened to secure the second bracket and plate in adjusted positions so as to maintain the fixture top wall substantially horizontal.

7. A bracket and fixture assembly for holding a package in utility and storage positions comprising a mounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent to one of its ends to the top wall of said fixture, a guide bracket mounted on said fixture wall in fixed relation to said pivotal mounting and including an elevated arcuate guideway concentric with said pivotal mounting, the other end portion of said plate being engaged beneath and movable along said guideway, and an oifset at least at one end of said guideway to receive said end portion to resist movement thereof along the guideway.

8. A bracket and fixture assembly for holding a package in utiilty and storage positions comprising a mounting plate pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the top wall of said fixture, an elevated arcuate guideway secured on said top wall in fixed relation to and concentric with said pivotal mounting, means on said plate engaged beneath and movable along said guideway, and means at one end of said guideway eflective to resist movement of said means along the guideway in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,608 Hohl Nov. 30, 1915 1,578,653 Gallagher Mar. 30, 1926 2,264,419 Unger Dec. 2, 1941 2,738,942 Gantner Mar. 20, 1956 2,863,627 Bode Dec. 9, 1953 

